IntroductionThe redesigned 2014 Acura MDX is a midsize luxury crossover SUV designed to seat up to 7 people in 3 rows of seats. It competes against similar models including the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Infiniti QX60, Lincoln MKT, and Volvo XC90.

Models and FeaturesAcura sells the MDX in a standard level of trim that can be upgraded with a Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system and a selection of option packages. Standard equipment includes 18-inch aluminum wheels, Jewel-Eye LED headlights linked to the wiper system, power heated exterior mirrors, a power sunroof, power tailgate, and a multi-angle reversing camera.

Inside, the MDX has leather upholstery, power heated front seats, triple-zone automatic climate control, power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and Extended Slide second-row seats with a One-Touch Walk-in button for third-row access. Active Sound Control and Active Noise Cancellation technologies are also included, along with dual-screen information and infotainment displays, LED and ambient interior lighting, universal garage door opener, and a Smart Entry system with push-button ignition.

The standard infotainment system includes Bluetooth connectivity, a premium audio system, Pandora and Aha compatibility, and both a USB port and an auxiliary audio input jack.

Options and PackagesBuyers looking to upgrade the new Acura MDX can choose between the Technology package and the Advance package, each of which is offered with a uniquely configured Entertainment package.

The Technology package is equipped with a navigation system, voice-recognition system, upgraded audio system with Song By Voice hard-drive track retrieval, HD Radio, satellite radio, real-time traffic reports, next-generation AcuraLink services, and a GPS-linked climate control system that can detect vehicle direction and sun angle to optimize comfort. Additionally, this option package contains rain-sensing wipers, a blind-spot information system, lane-departure warning system, forward-collision warning system, and a set of 19-inch aluminum wheels.

An Entertainment package is optional once buyers have selected the Technology package. It adds a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with a 9-inch screen, wireless headphones, remote control, 115-volt power outlet, and a rear center-mounted ceiling speaker. Heated rear seats are also included in this package, plus manual sunshades for the rear door windows.

The Advance package includes the contents of the Technology and Entertainment packages plus softer premium perforated leather for the seats, ventilated front seats, auto-dimming side mirrors, and remote engine starting. The entertainment system gains an additional ceiling speaker and a widescreen high-resolution display with HDMI input jacks, and the Advance package also includes front and rear park-assist sensors, an adaptive cruise control system with Low Speed Follow capability, Lane Keeping Assist System, Collision Mitigation Braking System, and e-pretensioning seat belts.

Under the HoodThe 2014 MDX is equipped with a new 3.5-liter V-6 engine employing what Acura calls Earth Dreams technology that is designed to improve fuel economy. The 290-horsepower engine isn't quite as powerful as the slightly larger V-6 from the previous MDX, but thanks to Variable Cylinder Management, which shuts off half of the engine's cylinders under certain driving conditions--and a significant loss of curb weight--the new MDX is claimed to be both more fuel-efficient and quicker than before.

A 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is standard equipment on all MDXs, delivering power to the SUV's front wheels. It includes a Sport driving mode, Grade Logic Control, and Shift Hold Control. Agile Handling Assist technology is also standard, as well as an Integrated Dynamics System with Sport, Normal, and Comfort settings. Acura's SH-AWD system is optional for 2014.

Fuel EconomyAccording to the EPA, an Acura MDX with FWD is rated to get 20 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg in combined driving. Vehicles equipped with the optional SH-AWD system are estimated to return 18 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg in combined driving.

Safety Ratings and TechnologyAs this overview is written, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed crash tests on the redesigned 2014 MDX.

The Latest Acura Articles:

Acura is returning to a profile that includes performance and sporty variants, as Honda Motor's premium brand plans to introduce a new turbocharged V-6 engine and bring back Type-S sports variants for all core models in the near future.

This year, Acura finally brings the long-awaited resurrection of the NSX sports car to fruition, giving the brand a much-needed injection of identity. Find out what else is new for the entire 2017 Acura car and SUV lineup...

For Acura, 2015 is a year of little change, yet what's different is certainly significant. Gone from the lineup are the TL and TSX sedans, leaving a void that is being filled by an all-new TLX sedan. Find out what's new for all of the 2015 Acura car and SUV models...

Acura welcomes its first wagon, the TSX Sport Wagon, and the flagship RL receives a host of improvementsAll other models in the automaker's lineup are carryoversHistoryAcura is the luxury brand of Honda Motor Company, a Japanese automaker. Launched in 1986, Acura was the first Japanese brand to enter the upscale luxury segment when it debuted its Legend luxury sedan. That model, based on the Honda Accord platform, was accompanied by the Integra sports coupe/sedan, based on Honda's Quint hatchback (not sold in the United States). Honda's luxury brand continues to focus on high-level automobiles and advanced technology (the company's exotic flagship, the aluminum-bodied NSX sports coupe, was launched in 1991), while the mainstream Honda lineup continues to build economy-minded family-oriented cars and crossovers.

Critical Facts:Acura's first wagon bodystyleFront-wheel drive powertrain2.4-liter four-cylinder engineStandard premium audio systemStandard Bluetooth hands-free communicationEstimated 30 mpg on the highwayAvailable during the fall of 2010IntroductionThe Acura TSX sedan was introduced in 2004 as a 4-door larger sibling to the Acura RSX. Put simply, the TSX sedan was a badge-engineered Honda Accord, which means that the exact car is sold in other parts of the world as the Honda Accord (interestingly enough, the North American market receives its own, larger Honda Accord). When the RSX was discontinued in 2006, the TSX became-and still is-Acura's entry-level offering. Now in its second generation, the Acura TSX sedan was last completely redesigned for the 2009 model year.